Flexible barge



Jan. 17, 1961 v u. E. A. BI-IIIQGLUND FLEXIBLE BARGE Filed April 10,1958 ULF E A BERGLUND.

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' Arrow/5V5 United States Patent FLEXIBLE BARGE Ulf Erik AndersBerglund, Almnas egendom, Hi0, Sweden Filed Apr. 10, 1958, Ser. No.727,730

Claims priority, application Sweden Apr. 11, 1957 2 Claims. (Cl. 114-74)This invention relates to means for transporting liquids by sea, saidmeans consisting of a collapsible container of liquid-impermeablematerial for accommodating the liquids. The principal object of theinvention is to provide a container which is preferably essentiallyteardrop-shaped in expanded condition and which is adapted to be rotatedduring transport to brace the container or make it more rigid. Therotation makes the container more rigid by reason of the centrifugalforce of the liquid so that a bracing of the container is dispensedwith, it is ensured that even at heavy sea the container will boreitself through the waves. The containers should be so large thatconsiderable quantities of liquid, e.g. oil, can be towed at low costacross the sea at the normal speed of tankers. The oil-filled containersmay even be towed under water by submarine.

Further features of the invention and the advantages gained thereby willbecome apparent from the following description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, which diagrammatically illustrates anembodiment of the means according to the invention.

In the expanded condition said means consists of a modifiedteardrop-shaped collapsible bag 1 having a pointed front and rear endand of plastic material for accommodating the liquid, e.g. oil. The bag1 which is intended to be towed by a ship is provided at its front end 2with a towing hawser 3 which is secured to the container 1 by a swivelconnection 2' so as not to partake in the rotation of the container 1.

2,968,272 Patented Jan. 17, 1961 The rotation of the collapsible bag 1of plastic material in the surrounding water 4 can be, brought about inmany different ways. According to the preferred embodiment illustratedin the drawing, the bag 1 of plastic material is provided with helicallyextending fins 5 or the like which are adapted to make the containerrotate during transport. The fins 5 which may preferably consist ofplastic material suitably extend from the front end 2 of the containerto the rear end 6 thereof. The fins 5 also serve as protection for thecontainer 1 proper when it collides with other floating objects.

As will appear from the drawing the relatively exposed front end 2 ofthe plastic bag 1 is made from a stronger material than the remainingcontainer 1.

The wall of the container is provided with a closable opening (notshown) and the container is loaded and unloaded by pumping liquid intoand out of the container through a hose or pipe inserted into thecontainer through said opening.

While the invention has been described in a preferred embodiment in theforegoing, it is understood that it is not limited thereto, for manymodifications may be re sorted to within the scope of the appendantclaims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. For transportingliquids by sea, a cargo container consisting essentially of acollapsible bag which in the expanded position has a modifiedteardrop-shape and is pointed on both ends, and fins on said b-agextending helically along the surface of said bag for causing it torotate when it is moved through the sea.

2. A cargo container as claimed in claim 1 in which said fins extendfrom the front to the rear of said bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS575,907 Scheubeck Jan. 26, 1897 1,301,738 Potter Apr. 22, 1919 1,773,069Walker Aug. 12, 1930 2,371,404 Mumford Mar. 13, 1945 2,391,926 ScottJan. 1, 1946 2,492,699 I-louwink Dec. 27, 1949

